cycles 1 and 2

1st cycle

year 1

The first-year course lays the foundations for the specific nature of art school teaching and its multifarious approaches. This year presents the basis of the theory/practice relationship (methodology, art history, introductory workshops). It is reinforced by a broad introduction, providing inroads into all kinds of aspects of contemporary creation. It is as much a matter of learning and mastering the technical and theoretical bases required to develop an ambitious creative project, as it is to nourish this project through its own relationship to the world. The most current questions join those posed throughout art history in a constructive dialogue, in order to bring each individual’s engagement into perspective.

At the isdaT, the students take various compulsory classes that enable them to choose their option from second year onwards:

Theoretical classes: philosophy, art history, film approaches, research methodology, methodology of analysis and writing, and languages;

Collective presentations of work;

Conferences, travel and workshops.

Finally, before the final-year report, the students present a personal portfolio called a “document”, which testifies to skills learned in the course of two semesters and reflects their commitments and motivations to enrol in a longer course. During these two semesters, a special accent is placed on the two methodology classes, the first concerns the acquisition of skills required for documentary research, the other concerns the writing of analyses of artworks and notes of intention pertaining to personal practice.

years 2 and 3

The three-year course leading to the Diplôme National d’Arts enables the student to develop:

Knowledge and understanding of the questions in artistic creation, both from theoretical and hands-on perspectives,

Artistic experimentation through a diverse range of media,

Knowledge of professional networks, via internships, meetings with external contributors and partnership projects,

The ability to sample, analyse and use aesthetic and conceptual elements in relation to one’s own field of research,

The ability to appreciate the objectives and/or stakes of the work, to present it and maintain a reasoned line of argument,

Openness to a field of artistic research that can be explored by way of a personal project and through an approach requiring a high degree of autonomy.

2nd cycle

In the second cycle, the objectives mainly concern the professional quality of productions and their conditions of visibility as well as the intelligence of their artistic, historical and philosophical contextualisation. The aim is to strengthen the development of a line of thought and praxis, leading to the complete autonomy of the student by the end of the DNSEP. At this stage, students should be able to develop an autonomous approach, enabling them to integrate new elements in their research.

At the DNSEP level, the following skills are required:

Ability to produce artworks that testify to the mastery of techniques and technologies acquired during the course;

Knowledge and understanding of a research domain at a higher level, within a context of research, providing proof of personal development and originality;

Ability to use this knowledge and understanding in a synthetic manner, within a broader context (sciences, social space, etc.) in relation to the artistic field;

Ability to articulate complex elements and formalise positions, including a nuanced examination of the situation of the artist within artistic, social and political domains; the ability to structure ideas, formulate and communicate them in a clear manner;

Development of the skills necessary to pursue research that may be incorporated within a doctorate;

Ability to retain and showcase knowledge and skills within professional environments.